Valve assembly



Aug. 25, 1959 c. A. PRICE ET AL VALVE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 30, 1957 VENTORS CLARENCE ,4. xiv/cs Eowmeo F/scuek Ross/er!SCHULTZ F/N/v G. 0L 50v 4 TTOJQNEV nited States Pate O VALVE ASSEIVIBLYClarence A. Price, Ann Arbor, Edward Fischer, Saline, and Robert J.Schultz, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Bradson Manufacturing Corporation,Saline, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 30, 1957,Serial No. 706,203 '5 Claims. (Cl. 239-538) The present inventionrelates to devices for mixing and distributing liquids, and inparticular to liquid mixing and spraying devices of the type thatoperate on the principle of aspiration. This invention constitutesimprovements over prior art devices wherein a bottle serves as areservoir for a concentrated liquid, and a cover member is screwed tothe top of the bottle and serves to direct a stream of diluent liquidover an apertured impingement surface creating a partial vacuum foraspirating the concentrated liquid from the bottle. The diluent andconcentrated liquids are mixed and sprayed by this operation uponexternal objects.

In prior art devices of this general character, the diluent liquidgenerally is water which is supplied through a garden hose attached atits outlet end to the cover member of the bottle. There are differentarrangements that can be employed for starting and interrupting theaspirating operation. One which is commonly used requires the diluentliquid to flow continuously over the impingement surface. The cover hasa vent duct extending between the outside atmosphere and the aperture inthe impingement surface. The vent duct is located so that the user mayplace his finger over it, closing the same. The user may startaspirating the concentrated liquid from the bottle merely by closing theduct, thereby causing a pressure differential to be created between theinterior of the bottle and at the apertured impinge ment surface. Theconcentrated liquid will then rise in a tube, provided within the bottlefor this purpose, to the aperture in the impingement surface, where itwill mix with the diluent liquid. To interrupt the aspirating and mixingoperation, it is only necessary to open the vent duct, therebypreventing concentrated liquid from being sucked from the bottle. Thistype of construction is sometimes undesirable, because the diluentliquid continues to flow until the user has returned to the inlet end ofthe hose and has closed the valve to which it is attached.

In some instances, valves have been attached to the cover member so thatthe user can start or stop the flow of water from the garden hose byopening or closing the valve. However, such constructions have notalways proved satisfactory for various reasons. In some instances suchvalves are bulky and heavy in weight, often they are clumsy to operate,and in most instances their cost is relatively high.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid mixing andspraying apparatus which will overcome the defects of the prior artdevices and which is characterized by its simple, light Weightconstruction, so that it can be operated easily and the cost at which itcan be sold to the consumer will be relatively low.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid mixingand spraying apparatus of the foregoing character wherein the valvehousing for the valve assembly is formed as an integral part of thecover of the bottle and wherein the nozzle in the valve assembly ice 2.is interchangeable so that different flow characteristics of the diluentliquid can be obtained.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a liquidmixing and spraying apparatus of the foregoing character wherein thevalve assembly is constructed and arranged so that the user of theapparatus can start and stop the flow of the diluent liquid easily andquickly, and wherein the flow of diluent liquid will be substantiallyinstantaneously interrupted when the user turns the valve to the offposition.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a valveassembly of the foregoing character wherein the internal parts of thevalve assembly are formed from suitable materials and wherein a leverarm is connected to a rotatable element, the movement of which willefiect opening or closing of the valve assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combinationbottle cover and valve housing, wherein the cover is designed to havemounted thereon an apertured impingement surface of' any desired shapeor configuration so that a standard cover and valve housing can be usedfor several of various liquid mixing and spraying apparatus, therebyreducing the overall manufacturing costs of each of these differentunits of equipment.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bottle cover member and an integralvalve housing embodying one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cover and valve housing shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is anenlarged vertical section through the axis of the valvehousing illustrating the various internal parts of the valve assemblyand a hose fitting attached thereto;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3 with the ballelements removed;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 with the ballelements removed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 66 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged section of the pin shown in Figure 6, taken onthe line 77.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a more detailed description of theinvention will be given. The cover member 10 is adapted to be screwedonto the top of a bottle (not shown) containing concentrated liquid.Such a bottle can be seen by way of example in the patent to Budwig, No.2,744,791. Any conventional inclined impingement plate, such as is shownfor example in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,744,791 may be mounted on thetop surface of the cover 10, overlying the opening 12. Suitableretaining means such as the four pin holes 14 may be used for securingthe inclined impingement plate in place.

Formed integrally with the cover member 10 is the 'valve housing 16. Theintegral connection is provided by theltwonarms. 18 and 20. The valvehousing 16 is cylindrical in shape and has its axis generally parallelwith the upper surface of the cover member and slightly [above the.latter..

The valve housing16chas. a shoulder 22..extending inwardlyaround thedischarge end thereof. Seated-against shoulderaZZ and-rotatably mountedwithin the valve housing. 16 is-ajet nozzle 24 having a dischargeopening. A sealing ring 26 prevents leakage between the externalsurfaceof .thetjetnozzle' 24,:and the inner wall of the shoulder 22.: Acap member28 is fitted over a recessed portion:30.on the upstream end-ofthe jet nozzle 24 and together therewithforming: :a unitary outletmember. The cap -member 28-is prevented fromurotating relative to thejet' nozzle 24-by meansofa suitable tongue v32 which fits intoganassociatedslot 340f the capnrember 28. The cap member 28 :has twodiametrically opposed longitudinally extending passageways 36-and 38,such passageways providing the only communication :fromupstrearnin thevalve housing 16 to the jet nozzle 24. Position edup stream of the cap.member 28and within the valve housing 16 is..a ball-harness membenAtl.The latter has two diametrically opposed, .U -shaped.wall.portions 42and 44 which are iopenat their oppositeends. Upstream of the U.-shapedwall portions 42and 44 is anannular portion 46 of reduced-diameters Theharness member 40 is retained against rotation within the housing 16 by1 me ans of any suitable .means such -as.:the interlocking grooves, suchas are shown at 48 and 50.

Positionedwithin each-of'ithe U-shapedwall portions 42 and 44 aretheballs 50 and 52.. The latter will fit loosely within their respectivewall portions and arefree to move axially of the -valvehousingl6 forlimited distances.- They are of sufficient size so that they can notmove upstream in the harness membeI-AO- into the annular portion 46,:butcan move downstream ofv the harness member 40into the positionsshown-inFigurel: of the drawing, where they seat withinthe passageways36 and 38, thereby'closing the same. Thus, it will be apparent that whenthe balls 50 and 52 main the positions shown in Figure-3, no water-ordiluent liquid can pass through the-valve housing 16.- It iscontemplated thatthe-female end of a hose fittingwillbe attached to theend of the harness member 40, as is shown at 54. When a .water hose-isconnected to-the fitting 54,-and-the valvecontrolling water to the hoseisopen, the pressure of the water in the-hose will act against-the balls50'and 52 to hold-them in place in the passageways -36-and 38. Thus,even though the water under pressure is connected-to the :valve housing16 there will be no flow of water, because the water will exert pressure:against. the balls 50 and 52 holding them in place.

When his desired'to start the flow of water through the valve-housing16,--out=the nozzlejet 24 and over the impingement plate, itis merelynecessary torotate the jet nozzle -24- around its axis which will result-in the cap member 28-turning-about its axis tothe same extent.

The balls 50 and 52 will berestricted from-rotating in:

this direction'and they-will'be deflected upstream where they-will restagainst the-outer wall surfaces-56 and 58 of the cap member 28:; Therewill'beno obstructions then in the passageways 36-and 38, therebypermitting free flow of the liquid diluent-orwater through suchpassageways. When it is desired tointerrupt such flow it-ismerelynecessary-to turnthe jet nozzle-24 and associated cap member-28-about theirlcommonaxis until'the passageways 36 and-"38 are again inaxial alignment with the permittedpaths oflongitudinalmovement of theballs 50 and 52 within-the U-shaped wall portions 42 and 44. When thepassageways36 and 38 are alignedin'this manner; the balls will be moved'bythe-reduced pressure conditions which will exist at the entrances tothe passageways 36 and 38 and will snap into the seated .posi-- tionsshown in Figure 3, therebysubstantially instantaneously interruptingthe. flow of liquid diluent or water through such passageways. This willinstantaneously interrupt flow of the concentrated liquid from thebottle (not shown).

The jet nozzle 24 can be rotated about its axis by means of a handlelever .60 .-which seats on a flat upper surface of the protruding end 62of the jet nozzle 24 and has a pair of pins 64 and 66 securing the twomembers together; Thus, the .twoparts will'ineifect be .anintegral-innit so that when the. handle lever 60is pivoted to'the ondirection, as shown in Figure 1, the passageways 36 and 38 will be outof alignment with the paths of movementof the balls. 50and 52, therebypermitting flow of water through the housing 16 and out the jet nozzle24. Conversely, when the handle lever 60 is pivoted in the oppositedirection to the off position, shown in Figure l, the balls 50 and 52will be in alignment with the passageways 36 and 38, thereby preventingflow of-water throughthe nozzle assemblies.

Ifdesired, the cover member 10 and valve-housing 16 may beformed-from alow cost, light weight die cast metaL- The jet nozzle-24 and itsassociated-cap member 28,-as well as-the harness member '40, may beformed from'any suitable plastic material. The balls 50 and 52 may betormed from a plastic or rubber-like material which'will be adapted toseat firmly againstthe'upstream end of the-passageways 36 and 38. Inassembling the various-parts, the-sealing ring 26 will initially beinserted into the valve housing 16 in the position shown in Figure 3.-Thereafter, the assembled jet nozzle 24 and cap memben28'will beinserted from the upstream end of-the valve housing into the positionshown in Figure 3.- Thereaften'the balls 50 and 52 can be introducedinto their compartments in the harness member 40 and these parts can beinserted into the valve housing 16 from the upstream'end thereof. Duringthis last operation the upper-end 680f the valve housing 16 will bespread apart slightly by-the annular shoulder 70 of the harnessmember;40,-and the latter will then seat within the hollow groove 72;provided for'this purpose, thereby locking thevarious parts in place;After this assembling operation'has been-completed a hose fitting 54 canbe clamped over the upstream-end of the harness member 40 so as toprovide a'swivel hose connection. Finally, the handle lever 60 can beinserted in place on the protruding end portion 62 of the jetnozzle-24.This is accomplished by means-of the pins or'barbs 64 and 66 beingpressed through'apertures 72 and 74 in the jet nozzle 24. The pins-orbarbs 64 and 66 have lower end portions 76 and 78,-eac-h-with a crosssection which is elliptical in shape having a major axis slightly longerthan the diameter of the holes'in'whichthe pins are pressed. This willcause such holes to be distorted out of round to receive the ellipticalend portions, but when the latter pass into the enlarged lower ends ofthe openings, the holes will return to their circular shapes. The pinsor barbs 64 and 66 can not then be easily withdrawn andthe handle lever60 and the'jet nozzle 24 will thereafter, in effect, be integrallysecured together.

From the foregoing it can beseen that a lightweight, low. cost valveassembly has been provided for use .with liquidlmixing andsprayingapparatus, such valve assembly being simple to operate and havingstandard parts which can be assembled with jet nozzles of a plurality ofsizes thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of a series of .valveiassemblies having .diflferent operating characteristics. In addition, thecombination cover and valve housing is adapted to use any one of aplurality of apertured impingement surfaces, thereby furtherstandardizing the parts to obtain additionalcost benefits.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing openatopposite ends, an outlet member With a coaxial discharge openingprojecting from one end of said housing, said outlet member beingadapted to turn about its axis within said housing, the opposite end ofsaid outlet member having at least one inlet port out of axial alignmentwith said discharge opening, an open harness member mounted in saidhousing for passage of liquid therethrough and retaining a ball oflarger diameter than said port for movement longitudinally of saidhousing, said harness being positioned adjacent the opposite end of saidoutlet member and open thereto so that when said outlet member is turnedwith its inlet port in alignment with said ball and liquid is flowingthrough said valve housing the ball will seat in said port interruptingthe flow of liquid, and when the outlet member is turned to anotherposition said ball will be out of said port allowing flow of saidliquid.

2. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open atopposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxial discharge openingprojecting from one end of said housing, said outlet member beingadapted to turn about its axis within said housing, the opposite end ofsaid outlet member having at least one inlet port out of axial alignmentwith said discharge opening, an open harness member mounted in saidhousing for passage of liquid therethrough and retaining a ball oflarger diameter than said port for movement longitudinally of saidhousing, said harness being positioned adjacent the opposite end of saidoutlet member and open thereto so that when said outlet member is turnedwith its inlet port in alignment with said ball and liquid is flowingthrough said valve housing the ball will seat in said port interruptingthe flow of liquid, and when the outlet member is turned to anotherposition said ball will be out of said port allowing flow of saidliquid, and a lever mounted on the outer end of said outlet member andextending in a radial direction therefrom for selectively moving saidoutlet member to allow or to interrupt flow of the liquid.

3. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open atopposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxial discharge openingprojecting from one end of said housing, said outlet member beingadapted to turn about its axis within said housing, the opposite end ofsaid outlet member having at least one inlet port out of axial alignmentwith said discharge opening, a harness member mounted in said housingand retaining a ball of larger diameter than said port for movementlongitudinally of said housing, said harness being positioned adjacentthe opposite end of said outlet member and open thereto so that whensaid outlet member is turned with its inlet port in alignment with saidball and liquid is flowing through said valve housing the ball will seatin said port interrupting the flow, and when the outlet member is turnedto another position said ball will be out of said 6 port allowing flowof said liquid, said harness member projecting out of the inlet end ofsaid housing and having a rotatable hose fitting mounted thereon.

4. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open atopposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxially disposed dischargeopening projecting from the discharge end of said housing, said outletmember being adapted to turn on its axis within said housing, a levermounted on the projecting end of said outlet member and extendingradially therefrom to form a handle for turning said outlet member toeither of two preselected positions, the inner end of said outlet memberhaving a port out of axial alignment with the axis of said outlet memberand in communication with said discharge opening, an open harness membermounted in said housing for passage of liquid therethrough andprojecting out of the inlet end of said housing and adapted to have arotatable fitting mounted thereon, the inner end of said harness membercarrying a ball larger than said port in juxtaposition thereto forseating therein when said lever is turned to one of said preselectedpositions and for rolling out of said port when the latter is turned bythe lever to the other of said preselected positions, said ball beingadapted to be retained in its seated position by liquid pressure actingthereon when the rotatable fitting is connected to a source of liquidunder pressure.

5. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open atopposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxially disposed dischargeopening projecting from the discharge end of said cylindrical housing,said outlet member being adapted to turn on its axis within saidhousing, means connected to said outlet member and extending from saidhousing to turn said outlet member to either of two preselectedpositions, the inner end of said outlet member having two diametricallyopposed ports out of axial alignment with the axis of said outlet memberand in communication with said discharge opening, an open harness membermounted in said housing for passage of liquid therethrough, the innerend of said harness member carrying two diametrically opposed ballslarger than said ports and in juxtaposition for seating therein whensaid means is turned to one of said preselected positions and forrolling out of said ports when the latter are turned by said means tothe other of said preselected positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,061,932 Budwig Nov. 24, 1936 2,514,431 West July 11, 1950 2,719,704Anderson et al. Oct. 4, 1955

